Washing machine



2 Sheets-Sheet J. RAMART'IN WASHING'MAGHINE Filed April s. 1926 July 1,-1930.

IIII I:

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J. P. MARTIN 1,768,702

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Hummm' l l willPatented July 1, 1930 JOHN P. MARTIN, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA WASHINGMACHINE l Application led April 8,

This invention relates to clothes washing machines, and moreparticularly to the type using a washing cone.

In my previous patents, Nos. .1,528,682 and 1,586,374-1 have disclosed awashing machine of this type wherein the clothes are received in astationary perforated basket within the tub, and wherein the washing iseffected by the vertical reciprocation of a cone, means io beingprovidedwherein air pressure is built up within the cone during the downwardstroke of the cone, which pressure is released atthe downwardmost limitof movement of the cone, and whereinthe arrangement is such that asuction is created on the upward movement of the cone, this suctionbeing relieved when the cone reaches the uppermost limit of itsmovement.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improvement onthis type of washer wherein the clothes may be more eiiiciently washedand wherein there will be less tendency for the clothes to remain packedat the bottom of the basket. Accordingto the present invention, it isproposed that the washing cone be normally stationary and that thebasket be reciprocated up and down, thereby lifting the clothes towardthe cone and then dropping away from the cone. Means is provided forvarying the pressure inthe cone in a manner si ilar to that described inmy earlier atents except that the pressure is maintained) in thestationary cone during the upward movement of the basket.` This pressureis relieved when the basket reaches its uppermost limit of'travel. OnYthe downward movement of the basket a suction ris created within thecone which tends to retard the downward movement of the clothes in thebasket. This suction is relieved when the basket reaches its lowermostposition. It will be seen that the varying pressure is eiective in thecone in the samewhvgcrank 9 at its manner that it is effective in mypatents above referred t'o, but that an improved washing action isobtained by reason ofthe movement oi the basket toward and away from thecone. There is in this arrangementno tendency for 50 the clothes tobecome packed in the bottom invention;

. packin 192e. serial up. 100,654.

of the basket, and a more thorough agitation of the clothes is secured.

The invention also provides a structure', which is more simple than thestructure shown in my earlierpatents and which can be more 55 cheaplymanufactured.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my in*lvention,'but variouschanges andmodica- 60 tions may be made inthestructure thereof within the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a section through a machinetransverse vertical embodying my Figure 2 is a top plan view of themachine with the cover removed; v

Figure 3 is a staggered horizontal section in the plane of line III--III of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a releasable connection between thebasket and the rods by means of which it is reciprocated;

Figure 5 is a detail view showing a transverse vertical section throughthe holding means disclosed in Figure 4 ;v and y. Figure 6 is a detailView showing a modified form of cone.

In the drawings, 2 designates a supporting frame in the upper part ofwhich is secured a suitable tub 3. This tub is preferably cylindrical inform and has a rim 4 in its upper end. Passing through the bottom of thetub close to the side walls thereof at Vdiametric'ally opposite pointsare fixed tubes 5 having pack- 85 ing glands 6 at their upper ends.Passing through the tubes 5 and projecting above the 6 and extendingwell below the botthe tub are vertically reciprocable rods 7 These rodsmay be reciproeated in 90 any suitable wa As a means for reciprocatingthe rods 7 I iave shown a transversely extending shait 8 below thebottom of the tub opposite ends. The cranks 9 are connected with therods 7 95 tom o V.through connecting links or rods 10. The rotation ofthe shaft 8 thereby serves to impart a vertically reciprocating motionto the rods 7. The lower ends of the rods 7 may be slidably received inbearings 11. y As a means for 10 I perforated on its sides and whichspider rotating the shaft 8, I have shown an electric motor 12 whichdrives a shaft 13. The shaft 13 has a worm gear 14 thereon intermediateits ends and another worm gear 15 thereon at its outer end. The shaft 13is at right angles to and above the shaft 8. The worm gear 14 mesheswith a worm gear wheel 16 which is loose on the shaft 8. A clutch member17 shiftable along the shaft 8 by means of a suit-l able operating leverdesignated 18 provides a means for connecting the driven worm gear wheel16 with the shaft 8.

The worm gear 15 serves to drive the conventional wringer mechanismcommonly employed on washing machines. This includes the shaft 19 andthe wringer indicated in broken lines at20. 4

Within the tub 3 is a clothes basket 21 which is referably formed of asuitable nonrusting s eet metal and which is preferably referably as aperforated corrugated cone-sli tom 21. At diametrical points on theupper end of the basket are laterally projecting lugs 22 which havesockets 23 therein into which the up r ends of the rods 7 extend. Therods 7 may secured in the sockets 23 in any suitable way. As a means ofsecuring this connection, I have shown the arrangement illustrated inFigures 4 and 5. In this arrangement a notch 24 is provided in the upperend of the shaft 7 near the top thereof. Passing through the lug 22 is atransversely slidable latch member 25v having a slot therein throughwhich the rod 7 extends. A spring 26 is provided for normally urging oneend of the slot in the member 25 into engagement with the notch 24 tothereby hold the basket and the rod against relative vertical movement.To disconnect the basket from the rods to permit of its being lifted outof the tub, it is merely necessary to ush in the ends of the slidablemembers 25 w ile at the same time lifting the basket. In placing thebasket -into the tub it is only necessar that the ends of the rods 7 bealigned with t e sockets 23, after which the basket can be pushed down,the latch members 25 automatically entering into locking engagement withthe rods. Removably carried in the top of the tub 3 is a spider 27. Theends of the arms of the spider are received in horizontally arrangedslots`28 in the rim 4 in the to of the tub. Vertical openings 29 permito the removal and insertion of the ends of the arms ofthe sprider intothe slots 28. To remove the om the position shown in Figure 1, it isnecessary to give the spider a slight rotation in one direction untilthe ends of the spider are in alignment with the o enings 29, whereuponthe spider may be lifte vertically out of engagement with the rim 4. Ifso desired, a suitable latch, consisting of a vertically movable pin orthe like, may be rovid in the rim, as indicated at 30. is

aped botlatch co-operates with one of the arms of the spider to preventthe rotation thereof when it is in latchingposition. This prevents theaccidental removal of the spider.

In the center of the spider is an opening whose shape is similar to theshape of a key hole. Passing vertically'thrgugh this hole is a shaft 31having a series of teeth 32 thereon projecting from one side thereof. Alatch member 33 is pvotally secured to the spider at 34 and has a lug 35which engages between the teeth 32 on the stem 31. A spring 36 isprovided for urging the latch into latching position.

By reason of the arrangement herein provided, itis ssible by movement ofthe latch 33 a inst t e tension of the spring 36 to moveV the ug 35 outof engagement with the teeth 32, to thereby permit of the rod 31 beingadjusted vertically up or down to the desired position. If there are`but few clothes to be washed, the stem 31 is set down to its lowermostlimit. If there are a great many clothes in the basket, the cone may beset in the up' ermost position shown in Figure 1. It may beadjusted asdesired between the upper and lowermost limits by the o eration of thelatch as hereinbefore explained).

The stem 31 carries a washing cone 37 at its lower end. This conepreferably has an outer shell 38 and an inner perforate shell 39. Therod 31 is hollow and has openin at 40 which terminate above theperforate plate 39 and below the outer shell 38.

In order to obtain the most ecient wash ing action it is necessary tovary the air pressure in the cone, as hereinbefore suggested. It isdesirable to force air down through the cone and maintain a ressure inthe cone during the time the bas et is rising. When'the basket hasreached its uppermost'limitl 1t 1s desirable that this pressure shouldbe relieved so that when the basket starts to move down a artal vacuumcondition may be establis ed in the cone. This condition exists untilthe basket has reached the lowermost limit of its movement. y

In order to obtain such variation of pressure in the cone, I preferablyemploy a pump cylinder 41 rigidly carried on cross members 42 below thetub. This cylinder is of special construction,having air escape ports 43therein just above the lowermost limit of the travel of the piston. Inthe upper part of the cylinder are spaced apart ports 44 and 45, t elatter being above the former a distance ecpal at least to the thicknessof the piston w ich works in the cylinder. This piston is designated 46and is operated from a piston rod V47 enga-ging a crank 48 on the shaft8 which reclprocates the basket. Secured to the outside of the cylinder4l around the orts 44 and 45 is a connectiii assage 49. ading from theupper end ofthe cylinder 41'is a pipe 50 which passes 'vertically uplowermost positions. As thus arrange clothes.

. prevent the clothes from the outside of the tub, entering the tubabove the watery level thereof and preferably near the top. The upperend 51 of this pipe is 'adapted to receive a quick detachable hosecoupling 52 on the end of a hose 53, this hose connecting with the upperend of the hollow rod 31. i y

`With this arrangement the piston 46 will travel upward as the rodstravel up. As soon as the piston has traveled past the ports 43 it willbegin to compress air into the cylinder, forcing this air out of thepipe 50 through the hose 53 and down the pipe 3 1 into the cone. InFigure l of the drawings I have shown the cone in its uppermostposition, but in the normal operation of themachine the cone wouldpreferably be set down further into the basket so that its lower edgewould be below the normal water level in the tub. This water level'would preferably be below the packing glands 6. The' rising baskettends to force the clothes therein against the fixed cone, therebforcing the water through the This action is improved by the forcing ofair into the cone by the pump. W'hen the piston nears the upper limit ofits travel, it will move past the ports 44 while the ports will remainuncovered. The pressure which is accumulated in the cylinder and in thepipe and in the cone may then be relieved by reason of the air passingaround the piston through the ports 45 and 44 to the atmosphere, thespacing between these ports being greater than the thickness of thepiston.

When this occurs both the basket and the piston will be at the upperlimits of their travel. When the piston starts down, at which time thebasket also starts down, the piston will move below the ports 44 andthereafter tend to create'a suction in the cylinder. This suction willcontinue until the piston moves past the ports 43, when air from theatmosphere may then enter the cylinder through the ports 43 and relievethe suction. At this time the piston, as well as the basket, will beindtheir t e piston notonly acts with the cylinder as a compressor, butalso constitutes a valve means for restoring atmospheric pressure in thecone at predetermined intervals.

When the basket is moving\down the suction maintained in the washingcone will tend to hold the clothes in suspension until the suction inthe cone isreleased. This serves to becoming packed in the basket, sothat a more thorough agitation and circulation of water through theclothes is secured.

The machine ma be provided with a removable cover 54 which is preferablyformed of sheet metal, and which may be set onto the rim 4 in the top ofthe tub. This cover when in place serves to conceal the hollow rod 31.and the hose coupling, and to close the machine. The cover, however,may be removed,

*placed and the hose connection made at'52.

the machine with water/the,

ried.l This check valve has a limited vertical movement in the stem,being confined by a cross pin or other suitable stop element 59.

The cup shown in Figure 6 can be* substituted for the cup 4shown inFigure l, in which case the compression cylinder 4l and the piston, aswell as the pipe 50 and the hose 53, are not required. The clothes areforced against the cone on the upward movement of the bas ket, tendinglto force the air outv of the cone through the ball valve 56. Vhen thebasket starts to move down, the clothes will tend to move away from thecone, creating a suctionv therein which holds the ball valve 56 on itss'eat and prevents the entrance of air into the cylinder. Vhile thisarrangement materially simplifies the operation of the machine, it isnot possible to obtain the same pressure conditions under the cone thatvcan be obtained with the pump. The blowing of air through the cone bymeans of the pump not only is desirable for the reason that it gives amore thorough agitation, but it also serves to aerate the clothes whilethey are being washed. A

A drain pipe 60 may the bot-tomof the tub.

The machine as herein described is relatively simple and can be cheaplymanufactured.

The washing action of the machine is materially improved reciprocablemovement of the perforated basket Wliereby-wateris forced through thebottom and sides of the basket. The oper ation is alsoniateriallyimproved over those machines having cones which reciprocate vertically,because the clothes are not only lifted away from the bottom of thebasket by reason of the water passing through the bottom of the basketwhen downwardly, but also the clothes are ke t be suitably located frompacking onthe bottom by means of t e clothes is secured, there are nomoving parts the basket is moved lll() by reason of the vertically swhich can contact with the clothes to cause injury thereto.

In operating the maehine,` the cover 54 is removed, after which thespider 27 can be taken out of the top of the tub. Vhen the spider 27 islifted 'out the cone will, of course, be taken out with it, therebypermitting the clothes to be placed in the basket. The spider with thewashing cone is then re- Upon filling motor may be started to operatethe basket.

In its operation, airis pumped into and drawn out ofthe cone in a mosteffective manner without the cone ever being above the water line in thetub, whereas in most machines of the cone type air can only be .su pliedto the cone when the cone raises entire y above the water level.

I claim: l

1. A washing machine including a tub, a basket in the tub, a frame forsupporting the tub, means below the tub and passing through the bottomof the tub for reciprocating the basket vertically, a washing coneremovably carried in the top of the tub above the bottom of the basket,a pump below the tub, and a pipe through which air pressures from thepump are communicated to the cone.

2. A washing machine including a tub, a basket in the tub, a frame forsupporting the tub, means below the tub and passing through the bottomof the tub for reciprocating the basket vertically, a washing coneremovably carried inthe top of the tub above the bottom of the basket, apump below the tub, and a pipe-including a detachable hose forcommunicating pressures in vthe pump to the cone. y y s 3. A washingmachine including a tub, a basket in the tub, a frame for supporting thetub, means below the tub and passing through the bottom of the tub forreciprocating the basket vertically, a washing cone removably carried inthe top of the tub above the bottom of the basket, an air pump connectedwith the basketreciprocating mecl1anism to operate simultaneouslytherewith, and a connection through which air may flow between thewashing cone and the pump. I 4. A washing machine including a tub, aframe `for supporting the tub, a basket in the tub, rods at each side ofthe basket for reciprocating the basket, power driven means `below thetub for reciprocating the rods, a

removable cone in the top of the tub above the bottom of the basket, apump below the tub communicating with the cone, said pump havingpiston-controlled air escape ports therein at its upper and lowermostlimits, and means for operating the pump simultaneously with thereciprocation o the said 50 rods.

5. A washing machine including a tub, a vertically reciprocable basketwithin the tub, means for reciprocating the basket, a supporting elementremovably carried in the top of the tub, a washing e ement dependingfrom the supporting element, a pipe communicating with the washingelement, a flexible hose communicating with the pipe, and

means below the tub with which the hose conp nects for varying the airpressure within the washing element.

6. A washing machine including a tub, a vertically reciprocable basketwithin the tub, means below the tub for reciprocating the basket, aremovable supporting member carried in the'top of the tub above thebasket, a hollow stem passing through the supporting member, a washingcone carried on the lower end of the stem, a flexible air conduitconnected with the upper end of the stem, a cover member supported onthe top of the tub extending up over the top of said stem,

and a variable pressure source with which .member supported on the topof the tub extending up over the top of said stem, and a variab epressure source with which the ilexible air conduit is detachablyconnected, said stem being vertically adjustable in the sup- 4portingmember.

8. A washing machine including a fixed tub, a vertically reciprocablebasket within the tub, means below the tub for imparting a verticallyreciprocable movement to the basket, a washing cone in the tub above thebottom of the basket, a pump below the tub including a cylinder and apiston, said cylinder having ports therein arranged to be opened andclosed by the movement 0f the piston, a pipe for communicating pressuresin the cylinder to the washing` cone, and means for reciprocating thepiston in unison with the basket, whereby it moves up when the basketmoves up and moves down when the basket moves down, said ports in thecylinder being arranged to effect an increase in pressure in the conewhen the piston is moving upwardly and to effect a decrease in pressurein the cone when the piston is moving downwardly.

9. In a washin machine, a tub, a vertically reciprocable per orateclothes basket within the tub, means for reciprocating the basket,.

a washing cone removably carried in the basket above the uppermost limitof movement of the bottom of the basket, a fluid lpassage leading fromthe interior of the cone and open to the atmosphere, and means operatedby said basket reciprocating means for closin the passage on thedownward movement 0 the basket to create a suction in the cone, andmeans for opening the passage to communicate with the atmosphere at theupper and lower limits of the movement of the basket. In testimonywhereoil have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN P. MARTIN.

